SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI FR
Only a fortunate few of us have the budget for a sensible family car and a self-indulgent weekend plaything. Although a family hatch and a lightweight sports roadster would make an ideal pair, pressures on space, the costs of running two cars and the inevitable arguments as to who gets what often mean that one car is a more practical solution. Sadly the list of cars that can entertain and work for their corn while at the same time being economical to buy and run is rather short. The SEAT Leon 2.
0 TDI FR, however, might just be the best of the lot.
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Did I mention that it only costs £17,512, has five doors, a whole heap of equipment and is cheaper to insure than a Kia Magentis? Perhaps now you can see why this car is so eminently buyable. Although the on-paper performance figures are respectable enough, as with all powerful diesel cars the subjective seat of the pants feel makes the Leon seem a whole lot quicker than its sprint to 60mph of 8.2 seconds would suggest. Itll top out at 135mph but the huge amount of torque in the midrange is perfect for putting a lesson on tailgating reps in their Mondeos.
With 258 lb/ft of torque available, this Leon has an engine a good deal brawnier than that of a Mercedes E350, a BMW 530i, a Porsche Boxster S or even a 4.0-litre Jeep Grand Cherokee. With this amount of muscle available to aid overtaking manoeuvres, the Leon 2.0 TDI FR just sails past dawdlers without having to unduly worry the six-speed gearbox which is, should you decide to use it, one of the better units of its type.
Accelerate the car away from rest and when the turbocharger comes on stream, the Leon feels almost alarmingly quick. The power delivery is certainly a good deal more dramatic than many more powerful cars and in the wet youll be glad of the standard fit traction control system as the front tyres would otherwise have a tough task of transmitting that maelstrom of torque to the tarmac.
"The power delivery is a good deal more dramatic than in many more powerful cars "
The £17,512 sticker price looks like a reasonable piece of business, especially as the less powerful and much less low-key TDI 140bhp model retails at just £1,000 less. The FR styling kit is worth that premium alone, comprising exclusive bumpers front and rear, racy 17" alloy wheels (with 18" versions as an option), sports seats, white instrumentation, twin stainless steel exhaust pipes, an FR-specific steering wheel and gearlever, plus a number of further FR logos inside and out. The on-board computer is fun to play with whilst sitting in traffic and will give you the opportunity to note quite how little fuel youre consuming compared to the guy in the bland econobox sitting in front of you. Climate control and a six-CD multichanger also ease the tedium of those moments when the road isnt exactly something out of a SEAT brochure. Standard safety equipment includes anti lock brakes, traction control, front and side airbags and ISOFIX child seat mounts.
The whole package is then protected by remote central locking with deadlocks, an immobiliser and a volumetric alarm. The handling is sharpened up considerably over lesser diesel Leons, but the fact remains that the Leon chassis isnt the sharpest on the block and that diesel engine is a very weighty thing to have up front. Drive at ten tenths and youll find the Leon a safe understeerer but few should pilot their car in this fashion on the road and at sensibly brisk speeds, the Leon feels nicely all of a piece, the uprated suspension suppressing body roll well and the steering offering decent feedback. The only real gripe comes when trundling through pot holed city streets where the firm ride and low profile tyres offer little in the way of cosseting.
Compared to a Ford Focus, there's a decent amount of space in the back, and with five doors access is always good - coupe roofline notwithstanding. The luggage bay is also of very decent dimensions and the split folding rear seat only adds to the Leons practicality. Sheer space apart however, that interior should be seen as one of the SEAT's strongest suits. Like all VW-sourced products, you feel behind the wheel that you're in something much more expensive, thanks to the choice of trim materials and the way the switches and stalks snap into place with an expensive click. There are lovely touches everywhere, including a steering wheel adjustable for rake and reach. The after sales package is strong too, with a years road tax included as well as a 24-month unlimited mileage warranty, a 3 year/60,000 mile warranty as backup and five years SEAT roadside assistance including cover in 33 countries in and bordering Europe. The SEAT Leon 2.
0 TDI FR is a supremely talented all rounder. Few affordable cars combine this level of practicality, performance, parsimony and panache. Its one of those deals that has you repeatedly looking for the catch but there isnt one. Products this strong arent too thick on the ground.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: SEAT Leon FR 2.0 TDI
PRICE: £17,512 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 14
CO2 EMISSIONS: 161g/km
PERFORMANCE: Max Speed 135mph / 0-60mph 8.2s
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 36.2mpg / (extra urban) 56.5mpg / (combined) 47.1mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Driver, passenger and side airbags, ABS, TCS, EDS
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 4184/1742/1457mm
